Effect of National-Scale Afforestation on Forest Water Supply and Soil Loss in South Korea, 1971–2010

Gang Sun Kim, Chul-Hee Lim, Sea Jin Kim, Jongyeol Lee, Yowhan Son and Woo-Kyun Lee
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Gang Sun Kim: Department of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
Chul-Hee Lim: Department of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
Sea Jin Kim: Department of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
Jongyeol Lee: Department of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
Yowhan Son: Department of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
Woo-Kyun Lee: Department of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea

Sustainability, 2017, vol. 9, issue 6, 1-18

Abstract: Afforestation of forests in South Korea may provide an example of the benefit of afforestation on precipitation storage and erosion control. In this study, we presented the effects of afforestation on water supply and soil loss prevention. A spatio-temporal simulation of forest water yield and soil loss was performed from 1971–2010 using InVEST water yield and SWAT models. A forest stock change map was produced by combining land cover data and National Forest Inventory data. The forest water yield increased about twice with changes in forest stock and climate from 1971–2010 and showed a spatially homogeneous water supply capacity. In the same period, the soil loss decreased more than three times, and the volatility of soil loss, in the 2010s, was smaller than before. The analysis of the change in forest stock without considering climate change showed an increase of 43% in forest water yield and a decrease of 87% in soil loss. An increase in precipitation increased the water yield, but also increased the soil loss volume. A change in forest stock led to positive changes in both. This study presents functional positive effects of the afforestation program in South Korea that can be useful in various afforestation programs in other countries.

Keywords: afforestation; forest water yield; soil loss; forest stock change; InVEST; SWAT (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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